Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-04-22
MONTANA WOMEN.
How They Acquire Landed Estates and
Manage Their Business Affairs.

How They Acquire Landed Estates and
Manage Their Business Affairs.
In all political canvasses out this
way, when estimating the number OF
votes which may be counted upon at
the polls, the votes of women are noted,
recognized and sought in every way,
says Fort Keogh correspondent. The
poll-tax which every voter between
twenty-one and fifty is obliged to pay,
whether male or female, is specially for
school purposes. AS one of the girls
puts it: Zone of the principles for
which the Revolutionary war was fought
was that taxation should have repre-
sentation; and the justice of the prin-
ciple is as unquestioned to-day as it was
one hundred years ago"
AS farmers the ladies are also entitled
to the cake. Woman has been typified
as a tender vine clinging to the sturdy
oak, which is supposed to be emblem
attic of a strong man. Out here in the
free Northwest it is quite the reverse,
and every day one can see or hear OF
examples where the gentler sex prove
supporting oak to the weak tendril, man.
A well-known married woman, a little
west of here. whose husband has been
absent nine months out of the twelve
looking after horses and rounding-up
cattle, during the past spring and sum-
mer did all alone and unaided her own
blowing. When blowing time came
this enterprising mother constructed
box on the pillow on which to carry her
baby, and thus she plowed the burrows.
She then proceeded to harrow, plant
and cultivate, and in this way produced
a fine crop, which she harvested and
packed away by the time the old man
came home. This is only one example
out of hundred. Some of the girls in
Dakota and Montana have taker. to
editing newspapers. AS rule, the
papers edited by the territorial girls are
credit to journalism. Miss M. s.
Mills has, besides getting out on time
the weekly edition of the Hawley Star,
proved up presumption. planted five
acres on a tree claim, built saw-mill.
and raised the largest cabbage in the
country.
The solution of the woman problem
seems to be that a woman may do
whatever she can. Girls on the prai-
ries of Dakota and Montana are now
living alone, in isolated cabins, miles
from humanity, and yet they are safer
in all respects than in large Eastern
cities These plucky homesteaders
spend whole summers alone on their
claims. and ne Their fear, nor have
cause to fear, the least intrusion. Such
absolute freedom from all restraint is
rarely enjoyed by anybody; but here it
is fact and no mistake. True. it is
"a little lonesome at times, but then
when the girls are in pairs one can
ride, walk, run, saunter, wear old
clothes, sun bonnet or hat. can sing,
shout, carol, trill, chant in seven oc-
taves. and nobody to complain about
it, They are free and light-hearted, OF
course, and the very picture of rosy
health. Most all of them can shoot,
and when they do, if necessary. they
shoot 10 kill.
Recently Mr.. and Mrs. Evans were
out to their stock ranch, near the mouth
} of Belt creek. to look after their cattle.
They were on horseback, and after
, gathering the animals together and
, counting them found that dozen or Sc
: were missing Mr.. Evans then started
across Belt creek, where he had seen a
number of head the day before, in
structing Mrs. Evans to go back about
; a mile and take trail up to the ranch,
on the lookout for any missing cattle
deciding on place where they would
g meet. She had not proceeded far
) however, when she saw in little
5 basin before her three of their calves
5 and two enormous gray wolves will
Q them, the latter engaged in the pleasan
; pastime of eating the calves alive. Or
G the impulse of the moment, never
= thinking of danger, Mrs. Evans lasheC
up the pony and was soon in the mids
o of the wolves and their prey. Thel
c she industriously laid about her witt
J. her riding-whip, driving the wolve
}. back, although they were snarling maj
S and exceedingly savage about leaving
It The wolves made a dash at her, where
g upon the pony SHE'D and nearly un
n seated the fair equestrian, but sh
l. quickly recovered her balance, an
\ dashed back at the brutes with sue
y energy and determination that the
h fled from the field and left the BRAY
n woman in absolute possession. Two c
1. the calves died from their injuries tina
le night, and the other one was litcrall
he torn to pieces. When it is consdere
le that hunters and cowboys, well armed
A. sometimes hesitate to attack the ferC
Of cious gray wolf on the prairie. it is a
Is the more astonishing to think that on
of woman, alone and unarmed, woul
at dare to attack and do up two sue
he monsters in such brilliant style ;
'h Mrs. Evans handled her brace of gra
is customers Philadelphia Press.
IN
d. Mexican Silver Deposits.
g, -